In the process of strippng a chest of drawers. My question is, “Do I need to do anything after I strip the old finish off prior to applying the new finish?”
A couple of things came to mind: sand, clean the wood w/ some type of cleaner.
Thanks,
dlb
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The undisciplined life is not worth examining.
Replies
READ the manufacturer's instructions on the stripper label or on the Technical Data Sheet on the company's web pages. Some need to be rinsed with water, other with mineral spirits. If the wood has any character, keep sanding to a minimum, it destroys patina.
As has already been stated, it is necessary to check the directions on the container of stripper. But after cleaning with whatever is recommended you can't go wrong with a wash coat of Zinzzer's Seal Coat (dewaxed shellac). Mix one part Seal Coat and one part denatured alcohol and brush on liberally. After it dries ( an hour or so) sand lightly with 220 grit paper. I think you will like Seal Coat so much you might decide to use it for the final finish. It's great stuff!
Good luck.
...with a thread title such as this and then find out you guys are talking about finishes.......sheesh! ;0)
...The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it. -Mark Twain...
Be kind to your children....they will choose your nursing home.
...aim low boys, they're ridin' shetland ponies !!
Well, I tried to convey my intentions (woodworking of course!) as succinctly as possible but, as with all words, everything has several meanings!
dlb
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P.S. I am married w/ 5 kids; therefore, I would not ask this question in any other vein than woodworking!!The undisciplined life is not worth examining.
Be absolutely positive that you remove all vestiges of the stripper or your finish will not adhere.
REmove your stripper with mineral spirits to avoid excessive grain raising that water will do. I have usually found that after stripping and using steel wool as my carrier for the stripper, very little sanding is necessary.
While your stripped wood is "wet" with the mineral spirits you can see what your wood will look like with a clear finish (such as varnish or shellac) so you can assess whether you want to stain/color the wood to achieve what you want. I would not put anything else on it until you decide about your final finish.
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